May 3 – Manchester City picked up the double at the Football Writers Association Footballer of the Year awards as Phil Foden and Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw claimed this season’s honours.
Both players have enjoyed fantastic seasons in the Premier League and Barclays Women’s Super League respectively.
The year saw Foden emerge as one of Pep Guardiola’s most important players with 24 goals and ten assists across all competitions with five games to go including the FA Cup final. He tallied an enormous 42% of the total vote for the award.
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice finished second in the vote behind Foden, while his Manchester City team-mate Rodri was third.
The award cements back-to-back awards for Man City after Erling Haaland deservedly took home the award this time last year after a record-breaking debut season in Manchester. Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah won FWA Footballer of the Year in 2021-22.
Meanwhile, Jamaican Bunny Shaw overwhelmingly topping the voting for the women’s award with 53% of total.
Shaw has been a key component of City’s title charge in the WSL, leading the golden boot race with 21 goals in 18 games.
“I am very proud and privileged to have received this award and to be recognised in this way is a special honour… Hopefully the side can now finish off the season in style and give everyone special cause to celebrate,” said Shaw.
Shaw’s Cityzens will face Arsenal this weekend in the hopes of expanding their lead at the top of the WSL table. Their closest rivals, Emma Haye’s Chelsea, dropped crucial points on Wednesday which gave City a six point advantage, though Chelsea have a game in hand as the title race nears the finish line.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1729228980labto1729228980ofdlr1729228980owedi1729228980sni@g1729228980niwe.1729228980yrrah1729228980